Chapter 3

Jian Songyi habitually sat in the back seat, while Bai Huai didn’t know why he sat in the front seat of the car.

Jian Songyi looked at the back of Bai Huai’s head and finally felt better. He slumped lazily on the leather seat before he took out his cell phone and clicked on WeChat group chat wherein Zhuo Lao and Li Qi Feng are.

Lu Qi Feng: [Is Bai Huai really back? ]

Jian Songyi: [Mm]

Zhou Luo: [Brother Song, look at the posts in the top stories!]

Jian Songyi: [Do I have the time for that? ]

Lu Qi Feng: [No.1 Middle Schooler in Post Bar Exam is about to explode because Bai Huai is back.]

Zhou Luo: [Really, Brother Song. Our school hasn’t responded yet, but No.1 Middle School really blew up. The new guy seems to have a lot of cultural and historical background.]

Jian Songyi: [Are you two like those liberal art students to phrase him like that?]

Although Jian Songyi said he didn’t want to, he still cut out the WeChat interface and clicked on the webpage of No.1 Middle Schooler in Post Bar Exam.

It did blow up.

There are twenty posts on one page and ten of those with Bai Huai’s name on it.

The title of the hottest post is “That man, he’s back”.

Once he had clicked the post, he was welcomed by Bai Huai’s picture at the south gate yesterday. Bai Huai was under the rain with his umbrella while his crisp white shirt was showcasing his Alpha superior shoulder. 

He is taller and more mature than he was when he was fourteen years old. He seems to be much stronger too. The only thing that remained the same was the small mole under the corner of his eye. 

Jian Songyi’s eyes then travel down the caption that went on like this, ‘After leaving Nancheng for three years, Bai Huai came back and became even more perfect.’

Then there goes the comments:

[The male god is back!]

[The best A in Nancheng is finally back! My unrequited love has no Bad End.]

[What’s wrong with this man?! How did he get more handsome?! My eyes are pregnant today.]

[As for you? Even if Bai Huai comes back, what can you do?]

[There is one less independent enrollment quota for Beicheng and Huaqing this year. I’m going to do some exercises. Good-bye, everyone].

[I will go too!]

[Ah, why did the male god go to Nanwai? Is it too late for me to enroll there now?]

…

[Why didn’t Bai Huai return to the No. 1 middle school here?]

A few hundred stories of high-rise buildings came to an abrupt end because of the last question.

It’s like some kind of tacit taboo.

Jian Songyi quickly closed the post and then let out a soft sigh. This group of people hasn’t forgotten about what transpired in the past.

And as for it, Bai Huai was only 14 years old when he left. Where and when did he get so handsome? Now everyone is talking about him and blinded by his charisma. They’re saying that he is the Alpha of Nancheng. 

Wait, he is an Alpha?

Jian Songyi thought about this for a second. He could not help opening the post again and looking at the picture clipped to it as well. He stared and analyzed the photograph for three seconds.

Well, it’s probably true that without him, the middle school that he was in will be left with people like Zhuo Luo- non-aesthetic people. 

Anyways, looking at the photo, he suddenly realized something that made Jian Songyi sit up straight.

Didn’t this guy forget his umbrella?

In fact, he made fun of Jian Songyi’s height even after letting him walk under his umbrella. The nerve of him. 

Jian Songyi pursed his lips into a straight line, feeling the same dissatisfaction he felt that very moment when they were under the rain.

Meanwhile, Bai Huai was looking at the rearview mirror to watch the dark clouds pressed upon the city. The sky is dim because of that while raindrops continuously fall onto the street buildings. The way the city gives of a grayish sad atmosphere- that’s all that he can remember. 

…

Jian Songyi’s and Bai Huai’s family are friends. They are expected to be like brothers since their grandfathers were born. In fact, Jian Songyi’s and Bai Huai’s grandfathers were assigned together to Nancheng and their whole family moved from the North and became neighbors.

Unfortunately, Jian Songyi’s grandfather died and the family was taken aback because of that. Because of that, Jian Songyi’s father had chosen to venture into business. While his father returned to Beicheng, he rose to prominence with the assistance of Bai Huai’s father.

Originally, the two families are about to drift apart after that, but Bai Huai’s sister-in-law followed Jian Songyi’s father into the sea. The two of them jointly monopolized the real estate and retail in Nancheng. With that, Bai Huai’s father refused the promotion and transfer in Beiching as he felt nostalgic for what had happened. Thus, they have decided to simply buy a house and live both of their families together.

The residence area is in the center of the city. The European-style building was shaded by buttonwood trees. It is separated by a boulevard and two lawns, opposite each other, with windows and doors seen across one another. 

Jian Songyi and Bai Huai grew up in such an environment wearing open-crotch pants.

However, the Jian Songyi’s family loved their son so much that they picked up the best private schools from primary school to middle school for fear that the young master would be a little aggrieved. Meanwhile, Bai Huai’s father took care of his son and sent him to the public under the nine-year compulsory system, and later transferred him to Beicheng in the third year of junior high school. With that being stated, there were not many confrontations between the two in the real sense.

Jian Songyi thought that if Bai Huai were a girl, maybe they could achieve a beautiful legend wherein he has a childhood friend that will then turn into his beautiful lover. 

It’s a pity that Bai Huai is a man.

Tsk.

Jian Songyi looked out at the car window to witness the leaves getting knocked out of the tree due to the heavy rainfall. As soon as the car stopped, he let out yet another sigh and got out of the car.

After Bai Huai transferred to another school, the father and son never went back to Nancheng. In fact, it was only during the Spring Festival that Bai Huai’s father would go to Beicheng to visit and check upon them. So technically speaking, Jian Songyi spent more time with Bai Huai’s father than Bai Huai himself.

Nevertheless, when Jian Songyi entered the Bai household and ate dinner with them, it felt like Bai Huai is more of an outsider than he is. In fact, he had been telling his grandfather what to avoid due to his high blood pressure. 

But still, his grandson is still his grandson. He would still worry about him all the same. That’s why grandfather Bai shook Jian Songyi’s hand and stated, “Little Song, I know you have good grades. Now that Bai Huai transferred into your class, please help him whenever you are free. Otherwise, I am afraid this kid won’t be able to keep up.” 

Jian Songyi glanced at Bai Huai, who was sitting on the opposite couch. He then quickly remembered the way Bai Huai insulted his height earlier. He had to get back on him for that.

He forced a small smile towards grandfather Bai. “okay, grandpa. You can count on me. Although, you know how impatient I could get so don’t expect me to be able to teach Bai Huai all the time. Else, we might get into an argument, especially if he is incredibly slow to grasp the lesson.” 

With the corner of his eye, he watched Bai Huai’s every move. 

On the outside, Jian Songyi pretended that he is okay with teaching Bai Huai. He replied so ever so gently to grandfather Bai with a warmhearted smile. But on the inside, he strongly disagrees with the idea. He despised the idea so much that he felt like screaming internally until his lungs give out.

Jian Songyi doesn’t really like the idea of tutoring Bai Huai. Bai Huai is too serious and short-tempered. Would he even let him tutor him?

It is impossible. It will be chaos waiting to happen.

He is expecting that Bai Huai would say no anyways.

But surprise, surprise. Bai Huai only lifted his chin and looked at Jian Songyi and his grandfather with a question. “Your house or my house?”

“Eh?”

What’s he talking about now?When Jian Songyi sat at the desk in Bai Huai’s bedroom and was only a book away from his elbow, he looked outside the window only to see the building opposite of where they are right now. It was an awkward and silent atmosphere with just the two of them there. 

Is he a fool? Or maybe Bai Huai is?

Are they really going for this tutoring thing?

They’re not even friends nor in a harmonious relationship, to begin with.

Jian Songyi had to cut his thoughts then. His body stiffened as he felt a hand reach out against him. 

It is a long and symmetrical hand with distinct bones. The pale blue blood vessels under the cold white skin can be seen on the back of his hand.

Bai Huai then bent his fingers and knocked on the table, “Get back to your senses. Don’t space out.”

When he knocked, Jian Songyi smelled something vaguely, and frowned, “Bai Huai, I do not want to be sultry, but did you spray perfume on your wrist? “

Bai Huai gave him an oblique look: “Which nostril did you smell it with?”

Jian Songyi was very serious as he replied “How do I know which nostril I smelled it with? The two of them were so close that they didn’t give me a report who did.”

“….”

Bai Huai turned his head and looked at him like he is a fool. His eyes were narrowed towards him as he moved closer to him. Without his glasses, Bai Huai looked more dazzling than usual. Unconsciously he looked towards Jian Songyi with indifference before raising his wrist towards him provocatively. “Do you want to smell it again?”

“Good.” 

“…..”

Jian Songyi really grabbed him by the wrist without wasting another second. He lowered his head and sniffed into Bai Huai’s wrist as his life depended on it. His brows then furrowed as he muttered, “Strange. How come there’s no smell anymore?”

His breath, with the fresh heat of a teenager, fell on the cool skin of his wrist, causing a slightly hot itch in Bai Huai’s side. 

Bai Huai withdrew his hand quietly: “Because I didn’t spray it at all.”

“But I’ve smelled it.” Jian Songyi protested. He felt like he had been wronged. “I have a strong sense of smell. Every time your grandfather sneaked in for a midnight snack, I could always tell and catch him. I have never made a mistake about it. Come on, let me smell it again.”

With that, he placed his left hand on the back of Bai Huai’s chair. Jian Songyi then turned his head sideways before leaning down to the back of Bai Huai’s neck. 

His logic was simple. If he sprayed the perfume against his wrist then, Bai Huai must’ve sprayed it against his neck as well. 

However, Bai Huai didn’t just sit there to be overwhelmed. Just as Jian Songyi’s hair on his forehead swept across Bai Huai’s neck, the chair was already pushed back. Bai Huai abruptly stood up and avoided him. He then coldly looked over at Jian Songyi. His gaze was cold and dangerous as he spoke. “Jian Songyi, do you not have common sense?”

Jian Songyi was stunned and realized what had happened. Bai Huai is scolding him. Jian Songyi’s blood bubbled in anger. “I’m the one who doesn’t have common sense? I smelled that you sprayed your body with perfume. We are already grown up and you’re still fucking shy?” 

Bai Huai did not pay attention to anything that he said. Instead, he closed his workbook loudly. He then spoke calmly. “I have finished the hardest problem, you can now leave.”

‘Don’t you dare give me an eviction order.’ is what Jian Songyi wanted to say, but instead, he pushed his anger into a tight smile. He stood up without saying a word, but because of the magnitude of the movement, the chair was pushed back so hard that it made a shrill sound against the wooden floor. 

“Who do you think you are?”

With that, he went downstairs with a thump, and the door was closed with a loud bang.

Although Jian Songyi has a big temper, he usually pays more attention to what he says and does in front of his elders. In this way, he became popular among them. 

On the other hand, Bai Huai looked up at the orange light to take a breath before he put down his workbook. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. With another sigh, he picked up his cellular phone from the table and clicked on the dialog box on top.

If Jian Songyi was the eldest son of a wealthy family in ancient times, then Bai Huai would’ve been the eldest son of the prime minister’s family. Only his temper is going to be bigger than him.

But Jian Songyi’s greatest advantage would be the fact that he is not afraid of power. He thinks that Bai Huai is just a little pretentious and there is nothing to be afraid of, so he tries to indulge in his ego and refuses to be humble himself even just for a little.

It happened that growing up, Bai Huai didn’t know if he is just lazy to argue with Jian Songyi, but he found himself just sitting in silence as he starts throwing his tantrum. He was not sure whether he is intentionally or unintentionally doing that . He really developed a temper where he could just let the other person argue until he gets tired without batting another eyelash towards him. 

Fortunately, Jian Songyi’s temper comes and goes quickly, and everything will be alright after he showered, so they can go on with how they were before just like that. 

So just like the old times, Jian Songyi did just that. He rubbed his wet hair with a towel in one hand as the other fished out for his phone. He had to apologize to grandfather Bai. it was rude not to say goodnight to the old man before he left the Bai’s house.

He opened the Wechat and suddenly a red dot lit up in the upper right corner of a familiar avatar. 

The avatar is a vast expanse of white with the nickname that has only one letter, B.

The last chat transcript in the dialog box was the New year greeting that Jian Songyi forced himself to send. Under it was a new message from ‘B’.

[Don’t sniff other people’s glands.]

Water droplets from his hair traveled all the way to his forehead. And then it dropped against his phone screen.

Jian Songyi’s face heats up a little as he chewed his lower lip shyly.

He could not blame himself, though. He is not good at reading the situation nor he is differentiated yet. Although, he understands why Bai Huai is angry. 

‘If it’s my fault, then I must settle this with a truce.’ Jian Songyi thought.

So he grasped his phone tightly and began typing the first thing that came into his mind. 

[It smelled good. Be confident.]

Although Bai Huai denied that he is wearing perfume, Jian Songyi was certain that he smelled something. It is a cold relaxing fragrance like a pine forest covered under the thick white snow. 

It does smell good.

And at that moment he felt an indescribable physical and mental comfort, so he could never get it wrong.

That idiot is wearing perfume. 

When Bai Huai received the message from WeChat, he looked outside again, only to see a wobbly figure reflected on the opposite curtain. He squinted his eyes, trying to make off of it.

‘He cleaned up, huh? Some people just don’t change.’ Bai Huai thought.

But it seems that he began to be able to smell pheromones, and it should only mean one thing. That a little someone is about to enter the period of differentiation.